Metal-bending machine



June- 7, 1927.

w. SEYMOUR. JR., ET AL METAL BBNDING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 [74 672 {071i Mum/155M003 If? 44455 0. 6R0 FF ALBERTJC/MAF June 7,1927. 1,631,386

W. SEYMQUR. JR., ET AL METAL BENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shut 3 Filed April 2, 1925 Q Q a mm vm Q? m hm S, $2M 5 Qt M Mme w m ww gu h fifl M: 7

June 7, 1927. 1 6

w. SEYMOUR, JR., :1" m.

METAL BENDING MACHINE. I

Filed April 2, 1925 s sheets-sum 4 I\ vs I fm/zn for;

lMzL/AM iimlaum/k k IIMESQGROFF AL BERT JC/IAAF Mg WZJQM 147TORNEY5T June 1927' w. SEYMOUR. JR., ET AL b63138 METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Shoot 5 M J W F MF mm 32 W mm M T memyw l4 4MB Wad M J 7 Patented June 7, 1927.

unirso ser es WILL'IAM snYMoua'Jn qAMEs o. (more, Ann atnnnnsonalir, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- nois, A S SIGfiOBLS TQ'JQSEIEPH greases 8t sorting; qiifcn' onoo, ninmorsf A ar nfier O I F B METAi-BENDING MAci-Im n.

Application filed A ril 2,1e; Serial No; 20,21e.

A This invention relates to improvements in metal bending machines particularly adapted for use in bending sheet metal and Wire mesh, and more particularlyrelates to such a machine designed for use in bending \yoven Wire mesh to form trough-like or U haped memb s, monly kne .t 'tfi building trade as stirrups, and which are adapted for usein the construction of concrete bnildingsto be imbedded in heavy floor lQGRIDS, and the like, to provide a reinforcing means therefor. P

In the erection of fireproof buildings, which are usually constructed of steel and concrete, it is desirable that means be pro vided for reinfor cing the concrete and especially the concrete supportingbeams for the flooring of. such buildings Steel bars or neinbers are therefore arranged in the concrete molds and are usually supported therein y an of was s pp r n ine.- bers or stirrups which are nsually arranged and supported in theinold in such a manner that the longitudinal reinforcing bars, supported by the stirrups, Will be positioned in the lower portion of the beam when the concrete has been poured and the inolds'remo ed.

The particular obje ct otthis invention is to providea inachine for bending or forniing snchstirrups \vhicl are preferably constructed of Woven ire meshconsisting of a plurality of heavy Wires or runners connect ed together in spaced relation by means of a plurality of cQlliparatively. lighter Wires,

Whichare usually Welded or otherwise secured to the heavy supporting Wires at their points of contact.

A further object o t the invention is to provide such a machine 0t simple and nexpensive construction, adapted for manual.

operation to bend and torn from Woven ire mesh, such stirrups, the mach ne also being provided with suitable adjustments whereby stirrups of various sizes may be made.

"The object of the invention therefore is to provide an improved stirrup bending machine. 7

I Other objects of the invention ivill appear from the following description and the a cle ing beams therefor show ng the stirrups-pocompa aying d a ngs nd i e n i l d ou n the nnex d: la ms- In he dra ngs the e es -111 mm d s n t er y out he ver qn qbi cts at e invent en, b t b s t0 b n-' dei'tstoodtha'tthe invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes e made ithinthe scope of the claims may W iQh el ow- In the accompanying drawings forming in-rt Of thi sp c fi tie Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved" stirrup bending Inachine showing the movable die in raised inoperafi e new;

end elevation 0t Figure 71s across sectional view on the niovablej'aws and also showing one of the forming angles actuated to upwardlyand inwardly thQ'lBnds Qff the'hea-vy Wires; Figures 8 and" 9 aresiniilar figures show ing theyarious steps 'in con'ipleting the forma i n t'the vs ump i t l his a S c ional View on the J1 nel0",1Q of Fight-e1;

s Figure llisafpe'rspective vieiv of a completed stirrup; r a Y i Figurei 12 is a detail sectional view 'o'ta tion of aconcrete floor-and the supportsitioned in the bean'l s.

has been disclosed v 'n'ialchine vyith lthe operating mechanism at the opposite end of the device omitted} Th we. ii P iee ma i Show n the accompanying drawlngs preferably comprises'a loiver supporting fixed jaw or "melnloer l5 which preferablyis'T-shaped in pro s section as shown in'Figures 7; 8. and. 9;

. l l ett g Je s p t i' b s -Pe 7 b means of suitable legs 16 having their upper ends secured to the vertical web thereof by bolts 17. These legs are preferably outwardly inclined, as shown 1n Figures 6 and 7, and have their lower end-port10ns outwardly-bent to provide feet 18 which are preferably apertured so that the machine may be suitably anchored to the floor. The upper horizontal portion of the aw provides a surface upon which the work or wire 7 mesh is placed during the bending operation.

A jaw 19 is movably mounted above the fixed jaw 15. -This 'movable is also preferably T-shaped v in cross [section and has a forming plate 21 demountably secured to the low-er face thereof as shown 7' in Figures 7, 8 and '9.

shown in Figure 3.

The width of the forming plate 21 is determined by the size of the stirrup 'to be formed, and this plate,

therefore is demountable so that various sizes of forming platesmay be employed. The jaw 19 is preferably reinforced by 'means of strips or, bars 22 mounted, one

from an arm 24 which has its opposite end pivotally connected to the central portion of the plate holder by means of a link 25, clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The arm 24 is mounted on a pivot 26 carried by the upright standards 27which are secured to the frame of the machine as particularly The machine. frame preferably comprises a pair of spaced plates 28 which are mounted upon and secured to the opposed supporting legs 29. .Referring particularly to Figure 10, it will be noted that the horizontal flanges at the rear end i of the fixed jaw 15 have been cut away so as to leave only the vertical web ofthe jaw, the upper edge of which will be flush with the upper bearing surface of the jaw. To

' each side of this vertical web section of the jaw 15, a filler block 31 is secured by means of the angle plates 32 which have their vertical web-sections bearing against the filler blocks as clearly shown in Figure 4. The vertical web section of the jaw 15, filler blocks 31 and the vertiealwebs of the angle plates 32 are then interposed between the upright frame plates 28 and the parts securely clamped together by the bolts 33 which pass through the frame plates 28,

angle plates 32, filler blocks 31 and the vertical web of the jaw 15 .as shown in Fig ure 4. The frame plates 28 preferablyhave a portion thereof cut away as shown in Figure 2 so that the horizontal flanges or webs of the angle plates 32 may be seated 011 the frame plates as shown in Figure 4. The above described construction therefore provides a, very rugged and substantial frame construction for supporting the main operating mechanism of the machine.

Angle bars or irons 34 are preferably securedto the upperlportion of the plates 28 to provide a supporting means for one end of a plurality of" rods or bolts 35 having their upper ends secured thereto and their lower ends secured to the horizontal webs of the angle plates 32. These rods or bolts provide vertical guides for the movable jaw 19Ias will subsequently be described. 1 Referring to Figure 3, it will also be noted that the upright standards 27 are mounted upon the angle bars 34 and are secured thereto by the upper ends of a pair of the guide'rods 35 (see Figure 2). The rear end portion of the jaw 19 is preferably provided with an offset 36, which offset is formed by cutting-away the lower horizonwill also be noted in this figure that the reinforcing bars or plates 22 011 each side of the jaw 19 preferably extend to the end 7 Angle plates 37 V are mounted :on the opposite sides of *the reinforcing of the j aw.

'tal web of the bar as shown in Figure 1. It i length as the angle plates 32 secured to the I frame of the machine. The lower horizontal webs of the angle plates 37 are apertured to receive the lower ends of a plurality of bushings 39 which have their lower 1 ends secured thereto, which bushings form vertical guides for the jaw 19 and therefore the forming plate 21 secured thereto. Suitable compression springs 41 have their ends connected to the horizontal webs of the angle plates 37 and the angle bars 34 and function to upwardly. lift the end of the plate'holder to the position shown in F igure 1.

The means provided for downwardly forcing the jaw 19v and therefore the form ing plate against the wire mesh or work resides in the provision of air-eccentric or cam 42 which is mounted directly above the jaw 19 between the two frame plates .28

and is supported'upon and, actuated by a I shaft 43'journaled in the upper portion of the plates 28. A cam block 44 is preferably secured to the upper edge of the jaw 19 and the reinforcing bars 22 to provide mounts(lx on;,the machine-frame 1 and thence to. the oppositeend of the; machine where it is secured to an, operating lever- 4:8 which may be mounted' on the floor, as shown, or

' be secured to the machine frame, hen the lever 48 is moved from the position shown i'nFigure 1 to that shown in Figure 2; the

j'aw will, be downwardlyforced against the lower. supporting plate, thereby securely clam inp; the work between the forming plateandtlieliked jaw; WVhenthe operator rel-eases'his grip onthe lever 48, the

-' action of the weight 23 and also the springs ll will tendto upw y liftthe 1 19 and the forming plate'to the position shown 7 in Flgure 1.

f the forming plate 21 7 being As a result of considerable length it is 'desirablethat means be provided at the opposite endhthere; oii' whereby such end may'also be downwardly forced againstcthe work to securely clamp it against the fixed jaw'15, Such means preferably consists of a clamping means which is pivotal'ly mounted on the end of the T-shaped' jaw 15 adjacent the operators end ofv the machine. This clamping means preferably comprises a' forked iii-ember 51 which: has its lower. end pivotally connected to the end of the jaw 15 by means of apin 52. A block 53'is.sl'idably-in'ounted inj'the forked end of the member '51 and is retained therebetween'by means of a guide pin 54 which passes through the block 53 and has its endssl idably mounted in slots '55 provided in the forked end of theniember 51. A cap 56 is secured to the upper end of the member 51 and has mounted.

I in threaded engagement therein, a clamping connected to the clamping block 53;

screw 57 V which has its lower end rotatably y means of this novel device it' will readily be seen that when the-clamp is moved from the position in Figure 1 to that shown in Figu-res'2 and 5,' the ends of the jaw 19, and also the reinforcing strips 22'secured-thereto, will be interposed between the forks ofthe clamping member 51 so that when the clamping screw 57 is downwardly rotated in its bearing: in the cap 56, the clamping block 53 will be securely clamped against the ja w"19 to downwardly force it againstthe wiremesh positioned upon the fixed jaw 15.

To release the movable jawythe clamping screw 57 will be rotated in the opposite direction until the clamp may be oscillated on its pivot 52 and moved out of engagement with the jaw 19 to the position shown in Figure 1., It is to be understood of course that the horizontal web of the jaw 19 is cut away at the end thereof so as to. provide clearance for the clamp when in the position 's hown in Figure 2.

The means provided for bending the Work orwire mesh after having. been clampedbee tween the forming plate and the mam fixed shown in Figure i Pivot pins or-studs 63" angle bars 7 2.

angles 58 which are pivotally' and {adj ustably 'mounted oneachi si'de'. of the machine. in

spaced: parallel rr'elationfi to; the T-shaped' 7, 8; and;Sjtheiorming angles 58lare pref erably secured to the supporting plates .59

which preferably-have their ends pivotally mounted in, angle brackets 61* and; 62cas1 jaw l5 ofthemachine frameprefierablycone 1 i sists 1nthe provision lot "a pair of. forming are provided 'tori thus pivotally supporting ing angles 58 may readily be adjusted to and from one another for. the'purpose of adjusting them to the width ofthe forming plate used. By this'novel inethod of mounting the forming angles 58 it will readily be seen thatthe distance between the: tw'r-r angles, which is determined by the width of the forming plate 21 and thereforetl-ie width of the stirrup to be forni'edfmay readily and conveniently be adjusted bymeans of theistuds 63 and the apertures 65."

Pneumatic means. are preferably provided for actuating- -'the forming angles 58 and consists of an air cylinder 66 having a piston 67 reciprocallymoui'ited therein, The piston rod 680i the piston 67 has a cross headsecured; to theupper end thereof which cross head is vertically slidable' betweenfvertical guides 71 which preferablyhaye'their upper ends securedto the 'T-ishaped jaw 01 the 7 machine frame an'dtheir lower ends, suitably secured to the floonby such means as the j Gonnectinglinks 73 operatively connect the cross head 69 with, the

supporting plates 59 otthe'formirig angles 7 58 so that when the piston is actuated, the iormlngangles 58 may be, simultaneously actuated to bend the wire mesh as shown in Figures 7, 8 and-f9. The cylinder 66 is provided with thefusu'al air intake 7 4 and the exhaust Z5,and providedwith-a suitable 7 operatingor control mechanism, not shown 1n the drawings.-

The material used in. the formationQof stirrupssuchas shown in Figure-11, preferably consists ofa woven wire mesh comprising a plurality of relatively heavy wires or runners 7 0 which are held in substantially spacedparallel relation by means of-a plurality of relatively finer wires 76 which are arranged at right anglesthereto. and are usually secured to the heavier wires orrun- .n s 9 by l -Ch as W l g In bendm jaw 15 fAs p a'rticularly shown;in'Figures ing the" stirrup, the wire mesh is vfirst cut into rectangular pieces,the size ofwhich is."

will eXert -a pull upon the opcratinglever 48 which will cause'the eccentric cream 42 to be rotated with the result that the movable aw and forming plate willbe downwardly forced'against the wire mesh agalnst thejtension of the springs 41; The clan ipingmemberf51 at the opposite end of the will thenbe upwardly moved from the position shown in F igure 1 to that shown in Figure 2 after Which the operator will downwardly 'otate the clai'nping sci-ewe? in the block 56, thereby causing the clamping block 53 to engage the jaw 19 and thus downwardly force it against the wire mesh. After the wire .mesh' has thus been securely clamped against the fixed aw a1r Will be mtroduced in the lower portion of the cylinder 66 Which Willupwardly move the piston-and therev fo're the, cross head 69. In the initial bending of: the wire-mesh'to form a stirrup,; one of the connecting'links 78 is'pr-eferably disengaged from its complementary plate 59 so 'thatonly one of the forming angles are actuated. Thus it will be seen that as the cross head 69 is upwardly moved by the action of the piston, one of the supporting I plates 59.will be oscillated upon its pivots T68 thereby causing the-forming angle to be oscillated until the wire mesh is brought into contact with the edge of the forming plate 21 as shown in Figure 7. After the ends of the heavy wires on one side of the piece of wire mesh have thus been upwardly and inwardly bent to form the hooks 77, as shown in Figure 7, the pistonwill be lowered and the forming angle returned to its normal horizontal position after which the connecting link of this forming angle will be disconnected and the connecting link on the opposite side of the'machine will be connected to its complementary plate 59. The wire mesh is then releasedrby upward movement of the forming plate 21 after which the wire mesh is further inserted or thrust through the machine until the opposite ends of the wires '70 will be moved into position for bending as above described. The cross head 69 will then again be upwardly moved by the piston 67, thereby causing the forming angle 58 on the opposite side of the ma chine tosimilarly upwardly and inwardly bend the opposite ends of the heavy wires of the Wire mesh to form thereon the similar hooked ends 77. After each side of the wire mesh has; thus beenupwardly and inwardly j bentto form the hooked ends 77,the form- 1 ing plate 21*will be upwardly moved to re;

lease the wirefmesh and the clamping memoutwardly sliding itfrom between the forming plate 21 and the T-shaped fixed aw 15 at the operators end ofthe machine. It

will then be inverted and again placed between the forming'plate .21 and the fixed, jaw 15 after which it'willagain be securely 1 clamped therebetween for thefinal operation of forming the U-shaped stirrup. Both of the connecting links 73 will then be connected to their complementary plates '59 after which they will simultaneously be ac tuated .by upward movement of'th'e cross .head, thereby upwardly 'bending the two sides of the wire mesh tothe position shown n-Figure 9, andthusco-mpleting'the final operation of forming the stlrrup. When the stirrup is removed from the machineiit will be in the form shown in Figure 11;

rom the foregoing f therefore, it will readily be seen that by the use of this'novel I bending machine, stirrups of various'sizes andfshapesm'ay be formed in a minimum amount of time, thereby providing a practi-' cal device adapted for use inthe formation of woven wire or wire stirrups such as are commonly used in the construction of concrete buildings. In Figure 12, there is shown a detail sectional view of a portion of a 'concretefioor and its supporting beams to indicate how the stirrups are preferably used in the construction of a building As here shown, it will be seen that the hooked ends '77of the stirrup are adapted to engage the upper corners of the concrete mold so-as to support the stirrup in its proper.

position within the mold. The usual lon-' gitudinal reinforcing'bars 78 may also be supported by the stirrups as shownin this figure. 4 p

In the drawings, and in the above descript-ion, we have referred to the machine as being used to bend U-sh'aped stirrups for building rposes but it is to beunderstood that if desired it may also beused to bend sheet metal to'be used for troughsor gutters, etc. The machine isalso shown asbeing constructed of structural steel, but ohviously, if desired, the frame thereof may be cast and also various changes and modifications may be made in the general construction thereof without departing from the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A machine of the class describedcomrocked to ,-perform-bending operations upon work clainp'ingly held between and projectfing laterally from the jaws, ae 1im1e1' C n- ,tran below thelower 4 w andlhavinfg avertical piston rod, and linksfco pivotfally attacheato thero'd diverging sewn-sl and ipivotallyconnecti'ng with respective aprons,

2. A machine of "the c'l'a'ss 'describedcomprlslng upper and lower jaws,fthe upper the upper jaw to andifrom ,clamping position, said tormerpla'tehavingbeveled edges L-shaped aprons pivoted on opposite sldes of the plate and having depending power arms, 7

a centrally disposed cylinder and piston rod therefor, and connections diverging from V and co-pivotally attached to the rod and conoperatively connected with said cam mecha-' necting with the power arms for applying power for swaying the arms outwardly in opposite directions. I

3. A machine of the class described comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw guiding aws can control the movement of both end of said movable jaw.

t. A machine of the class described comprising a lower fixed jaw and an upper movable jaw guidingly supported at one end only, a cam mechanism at the guided end of said movable jaw for forcing it toward the other, a lever at the other end of saidjaws nism and means adjacent said lever for drawing together the endsvof said jaws remote from said cam mechanism. 5. A machme of the class described com prising two elongated relatively narrow aws, upper and lower, respectively movable and stationary, a counter-balance for the movable jaw, means at one end, only of the g upper jaw for guidingly forcing it toward the lower-jaw, a lever at the opposite ends of the jaws connecting with and actuating said forcing means, and adjustable means ad;- acent the lever for forcing that end of the upper jaw toward the lower jaw.

' demountable former plate thereon as a work cla'mp of greater width than and extending laterally'at each side of the jaws, manually jaw, "said means operable from -t he -op-posi't e ing means fswinga'b-le to en age-panama "forciblyadvancethe'inova le ja w," terminalplates "having rows of openings syinmetrical- :ly' arrangetl' at v oppos1te sides of the lower jj'a wfsubstantially at the level otthe' wolrkmovable, a. former plate demountably car- ,fingi'facethereoi,and-bendingiaprons having. ried by the upper jaw m'eans for moving.

' -p'ird "fo ti iieei nel' a h g e said pivots traversing corresponding alin'ed 'pairs' of openingsfiof plates""and' posltioned'for bending co-operation with work engaged between the former plate and lower jaw, and ineansfor forcibly operating the aprons. Y a I I 7. A device of the classdescribed having a horizontal fixed jaw as a work-rest and an elongated movable jaw guidingly mounted at one terminalonly for reciprocation relative to thefixed jaw and having aformer plate extending laterally beyond the jaws,

counter-balance and tension means acting to retract the movable jaw, cam means coi operating at theguided end to forcibly 21d? Vance. the movable jaw, means at the opposite ends of the jaws. respectively for actuating the cam means and. for engag ng, guiding and forcibly advanclng the movable jaw, and L-shaped bending aprons pivotally attached and adapted for, pivotal adjustment toward and away tromthe jaws at opposite sides, and adapted .to engage work at opposite sides when held between thefo'rmer plate and lowerjaw, and centrally disposed power .means below the jaws for applying Power t he aprons outwardly in opposite directions. 1

8. A machine of the class describedconr prising work-clampingjtlWS, upper and a lower, a forming plate betweensaid jaws 4 extending laterally "therebe'yo'nd, having op:

posite edges beveled inlcorrespondence to the bending angle desired, and between which plate and lower jaw, wo'rkof greater width .than the plate is adaptedto be inserted and held, bending aprons respectively coope'rable with opposite sides of the work, adapted to be limited in their bending moveinent by the elges of said forming plate, andpower-c'ontrolled links connected with the bend ng taining'bending motions of the aprons.

aprons for simultaneously or separately ()l),

pivoted, one at each side of "saidr jaws, a I Y lformingfplate held: between the jaws, be f,

tween which plate and'f one of the jaws the work is clamped, and power-controlled links detachably connectedwith the 1 aprons for operating the "same simultaneously or singly to bend the work inwardly around and above the forming plate at an angle determined by its edges, said plate .proj'eeting'ly disposed and formed to limit and deterlnine the deiprising rclainping jaws, upper and lower, movable and stat1onary,a former plate secured-t0 the rlnovable aw and pro ecting laterally atiboth sides beyond the jaws, be-

angle iron members having flanges adapted to normallyengage and support the mesh laterally of the and adapted to engage the mesh, bending the samefinwardly and over the former plate in upwardly eonvergent relation, said members in a subsequent operation being adapted to bend the mesh simultaneously from opposite sides.

In Witness whereof, We hav'eher'eunt'o set lou r hands'this 21st day If March, 1925," tweenywhich plateand lowenjaw a piece of Vmetal mesh'to befolded is placed, a pairof JAMES 0,. Gnome.

WILLIAM SEYMOUR, 1;

a ALBERT SGH F; 

